Ashland

Mexico’s culture and traditions will be celebrated at several Cinco de Mayo festivals throughout the Bay Area.

Hayward and Ashland will hold festivals Saturday, and San Leandro will have a fiesta Tuesday, May 5.

Hayward’s festival will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at City Hall Plaza, 777 St. Live entertainment includes dancers, singers, and Mariachi Aguilas de Michoacan. Metro Taquero will provide food, and several agencies and vendors will have booths. Student awards will be presented.

The festival is sponsored by La Alianza de Hayward, the Hayward Public Library and the city of Hayward.

Ashland will celebrate Cinco de Mayo on Saturday with free food, local entertainment, and a community health and resource fair. The event is hosted by Alameda County Fire Department, Public Works Agency, Deputy Sheriff’s Activity League and General Services Agency, along with Hayward Area Recreation and Park District.

It takes place 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Ashland Community Center, 1530 167th Ave., San Leandro.

San Leandro will hold its 17th Cinco de Mayo celebration Tuesday, with regional Mexican dances by Ballet Folklorico Mexicano de Carlos Moreno and music by Mariachi Halcones. There will be arts and crafts booths for children, and light refreshments will be served.

The fiesta will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Civic Center Plaza, 835 E. 14th St. For more information, call Lydia Rodriguez at 510-577-3477 or email lrodriguez@sanleandro.org.

“In My Own Backyard” featuring the works of Jeanne Bertolina opens Wednesday, April 15, at the Hayward Area Historical Society’s Center for History and Culture.

Jeanne says of her work, “My passion is seeing beauty and artistic possibilities everywhere and making interesting (and sometimes surprising) compositions from ordinary subjects,” Bertolina said in a release.

An artist reception will take place at noon Saturday, April 25. Those at the reception can vote for their favorite art piece from the exhibit. A drawing will take place, with the winner being given the artwork after the show concludes.

The exhibit also includes trivia about each subject: Buffalo Bill’s was one of the first brewpubs in California. The Ranch restaurant was built with the wood of a pilfered train trestle from Sacramento, and the Hayward Plunge is on some lists of haunted places in California.

Friday was the candidate filing deadline for the November election, and some races have drawn several candidates while others had only one.

The deadline for San Leandro City Council District 5 was extended because incumbent Pauline Cutter is not seeking re-election, instead running for mayor. Three people jumped into the race late: Leah Hall, Corina Lopez and Mia Ousley.

District 1 will have a four-way race: David Anderson Sr., Deborah Cox, Mike Katz-Lacabe and Kenneth Pon.

Allen Schoenfeld, Victor Aguilar and Thomas Lee will square off in San Leandro City Council District 3.

Running against Cutter for mayor will be fellow Councilwoman Diana Souza and businessman Dan Dillman. Incumbent Mayor Stephen Cassidy is not seeking re-election.

Several races have already been decided when no opponents filed against the incumbents or only one person filed for each open seat; these will not appear on the ballot: Hayward Area Recreation and Park District Paul Hodges and Carol Pereira; Washington Township Healthcare District Jacob Eapen, Bernard Stewart and Michael Wallace; East Bay Municipal Utility District Ward 7 (Castro Valley, Cherryland, Fairview, portions of San Leandro and Hayward) Frank Mellon; Chabot-Las Positas Community College District Area 4 (Castro Valley) Donald “Dobie” Gelles and Area 6 (Hayward and San Lorenzo) Hal Gin; San Leandro Unified School District Area 2 Lance James; San Leandro Unified Area 6, Ronald Carey; Fairview Fire Protection District Sven Andersen and Leslie West; East Bay Regional Park District Ward 3 Dennis Waespi; Eden Township Healthcare District Lester Friedman, Roxann Lewis and Thomas Lorentzen.

Hayward Unified incumbents Lisa Brunner and William McGee are being challenged by Marita Cheng. Chabot-Las Positas Community College District Area 2 (San Leandro) incumbent Isobel Dvorsky is being challenged by Gene Judson.

For the first time in 2014, the California Highway Patrol will be accepting online applications for the position of Cadet. Do you have what it takes? Courage, dedication, and integrity are just some of the characteristics you must possess. It isn’t an easy job, but it is definitely one to be proud of as we serve the many communities in this great state of California.

Applications will be accepted beginning Monday, July 7, 2014, at 8:00 a.m. and ending on Thursday, July 10, 2014, at 5:00 p.m. You will be able to submit your information through the online application located at http://www.chp.ca.gov/recruiting/officer.html.

In order to help you with this life changing decision, Golden Gate Division recruitment officers will be hosting seminars throughout the Bay Area. We have found that applicants who are well-informed about the duties and demands of a CHP Officer, as well as the rigorous hiring process, are the most successful.
Recruitment Seminars

Our Recruitment Seminars provide an overview of the duties, functions, and responsibilities of a CHP Officer. The information will also assist in the preparation for the selection and hiring process. The attire for these seminars is Business Casual. Attendees should RSVP to our Recruitment Team at 30Recruitment@chp.ca.gov or at 707-648-4195.

Applicant Preparation Program
The Applicant Preparation Program focuses on physical fitness preparation. Workout attire is recommended for this event, and attendees should bring necessary hydration and food.

ASHLAND — A new community garden is holding an open house Saturday, June 21.

The garden is being developed on an empty lot owned by Alameda County at the corner of Mission Boulevard and Paradise boulevards. The garden is being developed by Project EAT, a county Office of Education program to promote healthy lifestyles.

Activities at the open house will include seed planting, kids’ games, nutrition information, healthy snacks and garden box applications. It will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 20095 Mission Blvd., north of Mattox Road and south of Lewelling Boulevard.

For more information, contact Project EAT at projecteat@acoe.org or 510-670-4156 or go to www.projecteat.com.

The Ashland REACH Youth Center will host a Cinco de Mayo festival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. It will include free food, entertainment and a community health and resource fair. The center is at 16335 E. 14th St.

San Leandro will mark the holiday on its actual day, Monday, May 5. The festivities include folklorico dancers, mariachi music, food and a children’s Mexican crafts area. It begins at 6 p.m. at San Leandro Civic Center Plaza, 835 East 14th St.

SAN LEANDRO — SOS/Meals on Wheels is celebrating its sixth anniversary with a luncheon May 17.

The nonprofit agency serves 1,200 meals each day to seniors in Hayward, Castro Valley, San Leandro, San Lorenzo and Oakland.

Proceeds from the luncheon, which includes wine from local vineyards, will help fund the program. There also will be a raffle and silent auction for prizes, such as a weekend at a Lake Tahoe cabin, Disneyland tickets and a playhouse made and donated by Habitat for Humanity.

The fundraiser is 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 17 at Eden United Church of Christ’s Oliver Hall, 21455 Birch St. Tickets are $25; for more information, email connie@sosmealsonwheels.org. or call 510-582-1263.

CASTRO VALLEY — Climate change and rising sea levels can be scary topics, but a community forum is planned for Saturday, Feb. 22, to help people prepare

“What?! Sharks in My Backyard?” will explore what is happening with climate change and what residents can do. It takes place at the Castro Valley Library.

Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center naturalists will lead a community discussion, and representatives of the Adapting to Rising Tides Project will talk about local effects.

Also taking part in the forum are Starr King Unitarian Universalist Church, Hayward; Hayward Area Recreation and Parks Department, MoveOn.org, 350Bay Area.org, the American Association of University Women, Hayward Area Shoreline Planning Agency Citizens Advisory Committee and the American Association of University Women and others.